My Strange Addiction 

You wanna know my strange addiction? Getting the top comment on my brothers youtube channel

I'm addicted to scrolling through the comment section during the video

"cutting out social media didn't make me happier because I cut out something bad. It made me happier because it gave me the potential to do so much more good."

All of us have this problem and it really sucks... my productivity just stops when that phone comes out of my pocket

Not really a strange addiction. Very common

*I'm addicted to* _photosynthesising_

Excellent video John. Thank you for sharing those 5 tips. Social media is definitely overwhelming. It’s hard to stay in control and not scroll aimlessly through the various feeds in our lives - it’s refreshing to see someone else fighting back too (re: my Twitter detox). Looking forward to your next video.

So glad you are growing so quick!

There's an app called forest that basically you set a timer for say an hour and in that time a little "tree" grows but if you get on your phone and leave the app the tree dies its a fun incentive and a challenge that keeps you responsible for staying off your phone completely

I discovered your channel yesterday and within less than 24h I have deleted most social medias and unsubscribed many channels on yt that I realized weren’t relevant or helping me be more productive. I relate a lot to what you are saying, from the amount of books I used to read and read now or the too large amount of time I invest into social media, consuming instead of producing. Your videos have really helped me and I wanted to say thank you🌸

Great video, John! This came at such a great time for me personally. I just decided to do an experiment about two weeks ago where I started planning my days and cutting way back on technoglogy. I have seen an immense change in myself and after only one week, I decided to adopt this as my new way. My productivity and mood have improved a ton and I’m feeling more connected to myself than I have in a long time. I feel much more content in general. I use some of the same techniques you mentioned to combat the technology addiction. I would like to note that I will not be including your method of "fighting the algorithm" because I found your channel because one of your videos was recommended to me and so far I have binge watched all your videos and I am loving them! :) 1. I unfollowed anything and everything that made me feel anything but happy. I noticed I was quick to judge certain people online when they would post something-unfollowed. Sometimes I had FOMO and felt like if I didn’t follow this certain person, I would be missing out on important things, but in truth, their content didn’t really excite or interest me-unfollowed. I, too, only follow about 15 people on Instagram now and it's great! 2. I turned off all social media notifications. This way, I will only check social media when I want to, not when it wants me to check it. This is so simple, yet I noticed I immediately stopped checking social media as frequently after doing this. 3. I got an old fashion alarm clock and stopped using my phone as my alarm. I now charge my phone in my bathroom at night. This way I am not tempted to wake up and immediately check all my notifications. I also turn it on airplane mode and I do not switch this off until I am ready and open to receiving content. I noticed that checking my phone and seeing all different notifications after being away from it for hours was stressful for me. 4. In the morning, I now wake up and meditate for at least 10 minutes. Then I will usually read and allow myself to wake up slowly unless I need to get up and get ready for work that day. After about 30 minutes to an hour of meditation and/or reading, I allow myself to get up and check my phone while I eat breakfast if I wish to do so. I also put my phone away for the night much earlier than I did before. I no longer check my phone right before shutting my eyes. I replaced this activity with reading as well. 5. I now schedule time to watch RU-vid and TV. These things are included in a list of free time activities that I keep in my planner. It includes things like hiking, running, and playing guitar. That way, when I see a free block of time in my schedule, I get to consciously choose something from the list. I feel like keeping a list of activities that bring me joy helps me to prioritize the healthier activities over spending time online. To watch RU-vid for an hour means I cannot play guitar for an hour that day. Is that worth the trade off to me? I hope you can take something away from these techniques and I look forward to more content from you! -Morgan

Only person who inspires me to do stuff and helping me to make something out of myself. Thank you john

Here’s a tip that have saved me hours from RU-vid Go get Adblock and block RU-vid thumbnails It takes a while to get used to all the white thumbnails but it’s been life changing Edit: if you need to see the thumbnails for whatever reason you can just open up an Incognito tab

Exactly what I'm going through right now. I love your videos, John. You always convey your messages perfectly. Very helpful.

This is really great. I am struggling with this as we speak because school ended 2 weeks ago. I am going to try these things. Thank you

Same for me! I deleted all social media apps from my smartphone. So I go outside to spend quality time with my dog and enjoy the "offline" live. I am so happy to grew up in the 80s without any tech stuff in my childhood :-) Best wishes to Boston from Bremen, Germany --- Stefan

Did he meet lil pump at Harvard?

Love your content, like I really really love that you try to improve other peoples lives! Something that really helped me spend less time on my phone is turning off notifications for social media.

Thank you so much for this. I am struggling with this problem and have feared that the opportunity cost has been too high. The fact that you’re been able been pick yourself up motivates me. Great video as always.

the knowledge you provide john is awesome i personally thanks from my heart to this content

My Birthday is tommorow, so I'll consider this a birthday upload. Thank you. I love this channel and as you grow (bigger than your brother) I'll support you.

Hey! Just wanna confess your channel is truly amazing I loved it and please do post more videos on beating out this addiction.

This is the most valuable content I have watched on RU-vid for two weeks! Thank you again for dragging me back from this addition!!

Really liked this video since I experienced the same thing about falling back into bad old habits last week, it's very easy to slip back and hard to get back on track in your old environment as well. As always you continue to inspire!

This is just coming on the right moment for me, I recently unsuscribed/unfollowed a lot of "crap" that didnt really interest me or didnt bring me anything, being critical with what I consume or do on these platforms, who I follow, etc (my case ig, fb and youtube). So great tips that come in in the perfect time. I really like ur content, makes sense to me to be suscribed to this channel, send u my support and wish u a great summer!

The other day I was standing in the train en saw this woman using her phone. Because I was standing next to her I could see what I she was doing on her phone (not like in detail, but close enough). I saw her scrolling through some sort of timeline. After some scrolling she went to the homescreen, swiped left, right, left, right (obvious she didn't know what to do with her phone). See then clicked a messaging app, checking for new messages, didn't have anything, went back to the first app and refreshed her timeline and checked this one out again. She kept doing this cycle over and over again. What I saw her doing here is what the majority of the people do when they are commuting, waiting or even walking. They just look at there phones as zombies doing things that have no added value. This is why I have deleted my Facebook and Snapchat and unfollowed 90% on Instagram. Also I have made sure I get 0 zero notifications/pop-up light/buzzing or anything from my phone (the only exception is being called). By doing this I have noticed that I spent hardly any time on my phone anymore. The funny thing was when I first had done all these things I still kept checking my phone and I was like, what is there to check? nothing.

Don't let this video post distract you from what JR Smith did last night to screw over the Cavs...

You are very expressive.

This is my strange addiction too, I'll definitely follow this! In order, to stop the temptation of using these apps, I downloaded an app which will block notifications, so I wouldn't get any notifications from any of the "harmful" apps, so I'll not use them. John, I'm also an imminent computer science major. I want you to make a video detailing your career aspirations & what you intend on doing as a computer scientist for the future, share with us your idea of what the future will be like in a technological space. Thanks! Great video once again.

Thanks for the video! You just spoke my heart out... I'm really addicted to my phone....but thanks for the tips...l'll join college soon next month with a major in computer science.....hope to use tech in a positive way and learn from my past high school's tech addiction mistakes!

THANKYOU FOR THIS! Yesterday I was just thinking about how much time I spend on social media and how, without even realising it, I'm wasting hours of time which I could use instead to achieve my goals. So I've done as you've said, I've unfollowed hundreds of people on Instagram (whose lives I wasn't even interested in) and removed all my subscriptions who I only watch if I'm bored. And I've already found time spare to read!! So thankyou very much! Sadie from Britain x

This was a very interesting insightful video. Thanks for spending time with me at the airport before a long-haul flight. Keep yo the great work. Greetings from Chile!

Thank YOU John for this one and the other videos sharing your experiences, helping other people to achieve their goals. There's a thing that always helped me : Meditation. Knowing yourself and your own weakness is a great step for those who want to stop procrastinating and being more productive. Great video ! Peace !

YOUR content is worth MY time, you’re one of the many rare people here that I can say about. The rest I love to whatch but Ik I’m not learning anything or being productive with my life :) your videos are so refreshing!

I've watched this video more than 3 times. I mean that its message is very deep and powerful. Thank you so much for sharing this. You're a inspiration for me.

I find “the fear of missing out” is what keeps dragging me to the social networks’ loop. Great stuff!

I'm addicted to taming minecraft horses

Well made points and well-structured video, I enjoyed listening and opening my mind again. Might I say that it is also strangely motivating? Thank you John

Yayyyy! This is such a good video, I’m also back from university and struggling with similar issues! Want to get back on track, was just thinking about this walking my dog earlier. I was very unhappy when I know I have good things but then I realised I had plans to practice programming which I had abandoned and I need to get back on track with those! Thanks for sharing John, can’t wait til the growth books go international (UK resident here)

John you are an incredible guy. As a college sophomore I look up to you and I try to implement the same rituals and tips that you provide to others. I never thought that small differences could help people out so much. You are doing great work. Keep it up!

Thank you for this awesome video. The person you describe is like me right now. Im just like all day waiting for a video of Casey or Gary. You probably brought more value to me with this video than any video i watched in the last 2-3 Years. You made my day. Thank you

keep these amazing videos coming, this came at a great time right before my finals :)

Right on time, trying to cut back the phone time. Also I really think you’re going to be succesful, not specifically youtube, just in life and I cannot wait to watch what will happen. Wish you all the best xx

I completely agree with what you said. I have taken breaks from social media before and it’s so life changing. It really changes your perspective.

I just wanna thank you, because your videos are so informative and they are changing my life in a positive way ❤️😊 Keep it up! 👍

This is a real eye opener, thank you John. I appreciate the transparency

I love your videos. The few I've watched so far have given me motivation and inspiration with an intuitive sageness. Thanks for the valuable content :)

This is such a cool video that I can show my mom to show her how I'm feeling being back home from college. It's a strange feeling, like you explained beautifully in the video & maybe this can help shed some light to her what I'm going through, being a computer science major as well.

Bro you definitely are someone who is worth watching, you have impacted me so much, you deserve SO MANY MORE subscribers, I am also gonna cut the time I spend on my phone, it’s my addiction as well, THANK YOU!! Keep up the great work bro!! ❤️❤️ I LOVE YOU (no homo)

I struggle with this too. Thanks for the tips! I consider your channel content of value. So I won't mind spending time watching them.

Thanks you for the video, on the way to improve, many things more need to learn. Keep up the good work mate!

Thank you for this! I always complain about not having time, but only a few months ago I figured out I just waste so much time on my phone watching things like fails and memes or even those horrible life hacks. Still figuring out a solution thanks for the tips! Can't wait until your book ships to Europe!

Thanks John! Im bummed the books are sold out. I was really amped to get one, but will wait for the restock. Great content as always man!

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Your videos really inspire me. Thank you. Keep on improving and growing ❤

Hi John! The main thing, and one of the most difficults, is to be aware of our weakness, and you already achieved this. Just continue doing your strategies, day by day, just for today, and I am sure you will be sucessfull! I am sending lots of good vibes to you from Brazil!

❤️❤️ grateful for the tips, currently summer holidays and I can see I'm getting addicted too but struggling to stop, your advice really helps 🙏🙏

Dude its great to see your channel grow so fast

I have another tip, which has to do with making yourself more aware of when you're consuming purposefully or just mindlessly scrolling. (I don't exactly recall where I read about this, but I do remember it is was described as a very effective) It's basically putting your phone (screen) in a monochromatic mode. That way you are not just responding to and being distracted by the colors and designs, but actually paying attention and focusing on the task you want to get done. I've tried it for a while as well, and I can definitely say that it made me way more aware of how colors were a big influence on my social media/general phone consumption.

You're not addicted to your phone if you're able to put it down for hours at a time to read *books* and do *homework* like you say..

You were on my recommended video section...when I was watching plane stress transformation videos for exam revision. now I'm just 'procrastinating' watching your videos

A big thing that helped for me is just simply making a list of the things i want to get done (today or in the near future). It helps me not to forget important stuff and cross things of my list when I finished them.

Been using offline for 2 years now! Glad that someone shares the same mindset. Love you man

I'd planned my daily schedule yesterday but I failed to do most of my goals, instead, I WACHED RU-vid ALL DAY. Today I woke up at 5am and just finished my breakfast ready to go workout, and I just wanna say that your channel has helped me get through the hard times , and I'll keep supporting you, don't be too stressful, everyone struggles, and then gets better ;)

hey John, i just recently bought one of your growth books because i wanna get into daily planning and personal growth. i was just wondering if you could make a video on how to use it fully. like talking about what days you fill it out and what to use it to its full potential! thanks!

This was much needed !! Thanks a lot!❤️

I needed this video.. I struggle with the same addiction. Thank you for the help. 😊

This was the video I was craving for the entire semester! Thank you for the solutions!

Oh.. I’m addicted to food LMAO

THANK YOU! Awesome video. I also struggle with being distracted on the internet but thankfully I deleted my social media apps a few years ago. Also using Cold Turkey is very helpful.

Awesome video, I think that many people suffer from this (Myself included). This video has been inspirational as always!

Cool video. Definitely have that same problem with always being in my phone..keep up the great videos!

oh my god , i am only half way through the video tho i was thinking about how much i am strggling with this problem as a highschooler , watching consuming 10 + hours of internet and the moment you started about strategy , i immediately thought about this app i downloaded to track my screen time - "offtime"! and the next second you said offtime just thought it was funny

That "I'm really excited for the future", I felt that ooof I feel ya 🙌

Yes! Thank you for this. I wasn’t able to quite put my finger on why I’m feeling kinda blah being home for the summer, as it’s summer and I should be relaxing and having fun. The problem comes down to falling into the person I was before I went to college, bad habits and all. It’s definitely not healthy. Thanks for the tips!

This video really opened my mind, thank you for sharing. There’s so much truth in this video.

This video is actually right on spot. Keep making this kind of content.

john!! the quality of the notebooks far exceeded my expectations. Im waiting off until next year to begin using it however i am genuinely excited for that!

I really liked your idea of fighting the algorithm, I never thought about it that way but I think I will adopt it :) In my case, I never felt I was addicted to my phone because I have always valued quality time, that is focusing on really being there either for other people or for myself. I have always used social media - I use facebook, youtube, quora and whatsapp - as a tool to find informaton, events I could go to, connect with people but I use them to actually meet up in person. Of course, if that is not possible, it is just about sharing and learning about each other. I value relationships very much, so I always viewed connecting with someone as an investment into the relationship, I always try to consciously work on it. It is something very important to me, because I do not want to wake up one day and realize that I focused so much on work or personal development (as on myself only), that I completely let the relationships and friendships fade. Perhaps I am quite existential in this sense, that I very strongly realize for example, that one day my parents will be gone, so I take time to be with them, to help them, to say thank you for everything they provided me with. My younger brother will be an adult some day, so I take time to be with him when he is in his puberty, laugh with him silly, dance to crazy music. And since I have moved many times in my life and I am planning on moving in the future, I take time to catch up with my friends abroad, to actually visit them, to send them postcards, which is one of the most wonderful ways to show you remember. So I always viewed technology as a beautiful tool full of potential. You can use it to grow, to explore, to learn, to stay connected. Or you can get lost in meaniglessness. In the end, it is about time. What do you want to spend your time on in this life?

Looks like a well thought video,thats very rare in social media these days.Anyways keep getting out such amazing content.Peace.

Tbh I struggle with the same prob! And my really strange addiction is planned the time and overthinking in every thing🙂😂! Amazing vid john keep going💪🏻💗💗

I have just discovered you and I realized that this is one of the most valuable channel in RU-vid

You create incredibly uplifting content - thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Thanks for sharing John. This is a problem I have had for years. Have tried to curb it, been successful for a while, and then all of a sudden I lose control and am back to square one. Always nice to know I'm not in it alone :) One trick that I believe works for me is that I don't keep any apps on my phone, so that every time I need to access these websites I have to go to the browser and open them up and sometimes even log in. Since that increases the steps involved, it's less easier to just drift away into it mindlessly. Hope this helps :)

ughhhh that's my struggle. I really appreciate this content. That helps me out.

Dude this video helped me so much thank you man I really needed it.

Halfway through the video, I paused it, wrote this comment, and edited my video I've been procrastinating to edit for a week now. Thanks for the inspiration and motivation man, love your vids. Btw, I'm gonna finish watching this, or getting on social media even, AFTER I finish editing my video lol. Thanks man

love your videos! Keep up the great work!

You are such an inspiration. Loving your videos.

Keep up the hard, excellent work. You are a role model and a leader! You are impacting lives

deserves alot more views, spitting some fire

Hey John, I feel the exact same, I just got home from a gap year and I also felt like my old environment made me loose some of my healthy habits I built for myself...

I’ve recently discovered I’m addicted to my phone. I hope to cut down (especially as I have exams in a few days!). Your videos always keep surprising me. I’m so glad I found you!

Where can I order the Notebook since it is not on improvementmovement.co?

John, great job with you're video. This was an add eye opener. Thank you. God bless you.

Really needed this video. Thanks, man.

Hello comment section, does anyone have a link to the app John mentioned, Off Time? Or any app blocking specific apps for a period of time? I can't find it, but maybe it's just not available in my country.

Every Friday feels like Christmas morning when a John Fish video gets uploaded 😅

Very helpful video! Thanks John! Maybe you could talk about how to balance productivity and social activity with friends. How some relationships can make you unproductive. Anyway thanks for being an inspiration! 🙏🏻

Actually one comment I do have is that I totally understand how you want to maximize your productivity and really do the things you wanna do however I think we need to keep in mind that there is still a certain aspect or randomness and luck to life... like you can organize every minute detail of what youre doing thinking that itll make the way youre living optimal however what you think is influencing you in a negative way might not be and what you think is being productive might not be... no matter what there will be some stuff you wont see. I just say all this because I found your channel through the recommended videos and have really been enjoying hearing you think because I can relate. I did not go down the rabbit hole but I did find a cool channel by just clicking on a random video. However, I might also think you're channel is beneficial to me but I'm spending my lunch break writing this instead of doing something else.. would doing something else have made me happier? Maybe... however if you start over analyzing every aspect of your life... maybe that way of thinking overall will keep you un happy no matter how many details you workout. Anyways food for thought!

I love the new camera John!